Jakubauskas promoted, throws three innings

BALTIMORE -- The last time Orioles right-hander Chris Jakubauskas made a Major League start, it lasted just 12 pitches and ended with him being helped off the mound.

Jakubauskas, whose contract was purchased by the O's prior to Saturday's doubleheader, joked that if he made it to 13 this time, he'd take a moment to smile on the hill.

A 32-year-old right-hander who suffered the injury in his Pirates debut -- he took a liner by Lance Berkman off the side of his head -- Jakubauskas joins the Orioles in place of struggling righty Brad Bergesen.

Jakubauskas did not receive a big league invite in Spring Training. He was asked on Saturday if it was rewarding to be back in the big leagues given his injury -- which occurred April 24, 2010 -- and said it's rewarding, period, to be in the Major Leagues.

"You don't strive to play in the Minor Leagues," said Jakubauskas, who pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings this spring. "You go down there and, hopefully, you do well, and you get the call to be back up here. Your goal is to play in the Major Leagues. That's the main goal."

Now, Jakubauskas is focused on staying. He said Saturday he wasn't sure of the team's exact plans for him, but he would do whatever was asked. He entered the second game of the doubleheader in the seventh inning and closed it out, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings. The club announced after the second game that Guthrie would start on Sunday.

"One, we think he's the best option right now of what we have," manager Buck Showalter said of Jakubauskas joining the roster. "He has options, which allows us to kind of move him back and forth if we have to. That's something's that's been a challenge for us, the way we're constructed."

In 35 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2009, Jakubauskas went 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA. He is reunited with O's bullpen coach Rick Adair, who was the Mariners' pitching coach at the time.

"[He can] locate his fastball, has a feel for pitching," Showalter said. "[He's] athletic, holds runners, he works fast, which is always a good thing."

Hardy injures oblique, DL stint appears likely

BALTIMORE -- Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy exited the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday after two innings with a strained left oblique muscle, an injury that is a major blow to the O's infield and will almost certainly require a trip to the disabled list. Hardy is scheduled to get an MRI on Monday.

"Unless something in the early diagnosis is way off, it looks like he is headed to the DL," manager Buck Showalter said. "It's a whole different spot than the smaller issue he had earlier."

Hardy was a late scratch on Thursday night after experiencing some discomfort in his side during pregame batting practice, and Saturday's nightcap was his first start since. Hardy said he felt fine in pregame activities, but he felt something grab at his side during his first swing in the second inning.

"It [stinks]," Hardy said of the injury. "I came in today feeling like everything was gone, it was nothing. I took some swings in the cage and everything was gone."

He didn't swing again after his painful first go, and Rangers starter Matt Harrison sent Hardy down looking at strikes. He did not return to the game, and the Orioles don't have any idea the extent of the injury or length of time Hardy will miss.

"It's a little bit further in the back than kind of on the side where it was," Hardy said of his pain. "I think it still could be the same oblique, just maybe a different spot."

In Hardy's place, the Orioles will likely go with Cesar Izturis at short, and Showalter said the Orioles are still weighing their options as to who would take the open roster spot. Given the team's injuries in their rotation, and with Saturday's decision to option Brad Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk, the team could elect to add another arm or an additional catcher in Craig Tatum.

"We are going to talk some more but [president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail] has had seven innings to think about it," Showalter said. "So I am sure he has his hands around what are best move is."

Roberts starts both games of doubleheader

BALTIMORE -- Tests on Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts' stomach came back negative, and the infielder was cleared to play and in Saturday's starting lineup for Game 1 of a straight doubleheader against the Rangers. He went 0-for-4 in the game. He also started Game 2, going 0-for-3.

"Everything's fine," Roberts said prior to the first game. "I haven't been feeling great for a couple days and the doctor just a little while before the game [on Friday] wanted me to go get checked out."

Roberts was taken to a nearby hospital to undergo tests on his stomach, and had the Orioles played Friday's series opener against the Rangers -- which was rained out -- he would have been a late scratch. Roberts said he's still not sure of the exact diagnosis.

"Tests were normal, and we're ready to go," manager Buck Showalter said of Roberts.

Orioles option Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk

BALTIMORE -- Seeking to replenish their thin pitching corps, the Orioles optioned Brad Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk prior to Saturday's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers and purchased the contract of right-hander Chris Jakubauskas.

Bergesen pitched just one game so far this season, starting against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in lieu of Jeremy Guthrie. He allowed four runs (two earned) in 3 2/3 innings and, given the state of the team's bullpen, the Orioles decided to send Bergesen down in favor of a fresh arm.

"I don't think he's pitched more than four innings in 20 days," manager Buck Showalter said of Bergesen, who was struck with a line drive on his right forearm in his final spring start.

"It's time for him to get down there and get his feet back on the ground. He had a lot of things thrown at him there with the line drive, with [Brian] Matusz being out, with Guthrie's health. We need a starter [Sunday], potentially, if Guthrie can't go, and Bergy's only had three days' rest. After throwing 80-something, 90 [pitches], he's not equipped to do that."

Bergesen, 25, had a 5.82 ERA in six games this spring. He declined to comment to reporters after he was told the news.

Jakubauskas threw three innings on Saturday. The team announced after the second game of the doubleheader that Guthrie would start on Sunday.